Sometimes I feel like Congress is the bully on the school playground. They make all the rules and tell everyone how to play the game they want to play. They give out great toys, our military benefits, but they constantly taunt us saying they’ll take them away.

Military families want Congress to play fair.

When they promise us something, we expect them to live up to it.

What do you think? Is Congress being a bully to military families?

Every year Congress looks at military spending. They question how to save the government money. Military benefits are put on the chopping block every time. Think about the benefits you or your service member were promised when enlisting.

Are you getting everything you were promised? Probably not.

I’ve been part of the military community my entire life. My parents were both in the Army and my husband is in the Navy. I have seen firsthand how Congress plays. I read the transcripts from subcommittees that debate changes to military benefits.

I pay close attention to the wording of bills I follow to see how they progress through the Senate and the House. Not many people do, which is why I enjoy writing about what Congress is doing in regards to changes that affect military families.

I want you to know what is going on so you aren’t blindsided.

So many changes have occurred recently. Have you kept up with what Congress is doing or have you been thrown a curve when you’ve needed a benefit?

Tricare had significant changes start on January 1, 2018, for example. Did you know that while Tricare Prime remained the same, Tricare Standard and Tricare Extra merged to become Tricare Select? A significant part of the change is that beneficiaries will no longer be able to switch between Tricare plans at any time. There will now be an open enrollment window. Life events will continue to enable you to switch however.

I’m sure you know that we got a pay raise this year. That’s one thing military families keep track of. There are some important things to consider though. Congress isn’t necessarily giving away extra money without caveats. You might want to read up on BAH rates for locations you are considering for your next PCS. Rates have gone up, slightly, in some locations and down in others.

Did you know that Congress wants military families to start covering 5% of BAH starting as early as next year?

Military retirement changed on January 1 as well. Congress made the most significant change to military retirement pensions in 70 years. The old plan, known as the legacy retirement system, stayed the same. A new retirement program known as the blended retirement system allows incoming service members to basically set aside money that is matched by the government up to a point. They will no longer be required to stay in the set 20 years to earn a retirement benefit.

The post-9/11 GI Bill also changed. Previously there was a 15-year cutoff date to use or lose the benefit after a service member left the military, if they left after 2013. That was eliminated. Reservists will now see their benefits increased. Surviving dependents and Purple Heart recipients get better benefits as well. A great thing is that those who attended a college that closed in 2015 or later, who ended up losing their money, will now get a new allotment.

These are just a few of the changes Congress sent our way already this year. It’s great that those entering the military will have some improvements to benefits such as the retirement plan and the post-9/11 GI Bill. Those that have been in for a while are excluded from many benefit improvements coming though. Tricare is a major benefit that many people joined the military for. That’s taking a big hit. Copays for medication increased. The dental plan changed, and not for the better, not to long ago. The commissary has changed so that prices fluctuate with the area.

In some ways it’s like Congress is making friends with the new kids and bullying their other classmates on the playground. The bully didn’t play favorites during the recent government shutdown though. Congress mandated that service members continue to work, even if they weren’t going to get paid. And our representatives didn’t lose money or sleep over this decision.

What do you think? Is Congress being a bully to military families?

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It’s the new year and along with resolutions, new tax regulations and the Winter Olympics, we also have the annual military pay increase.

For active duty, the 2.4% pay increase will be the largest pay raise since 2010. But is it enough?

In years past the raise has been a little lackluster, but this year most folks are pretty happy with the pay increase. How much are we going to see? For active duty, the 2.4% pay increase will be the largest pay raise since 2010. For my spouse, that means a monthly increase of just under $100 a month. Not too shabby, maybe we can finally institute a monthly date night.

To see how much the pay increase for active duty personnel will benefit your household, check out the 2018 Military Pay Rates chart here. Retirees and disabled veterans can find more information about the new COLA rate by clicking here.

In addition to all the stir about the pay increase, you might also have heard that BAH rates are ticking up slightly. And by slightly, I mean just barely at 0.7% on average, but an increase is an increase, I suppose.

The average service member will see less than a $20 increase in their BAH rates, but over the course of the year, an extra $240 can come in handy. If you’re like me, that’s my budget to replant my vegetable garden and buy a new watering can.

Keep in mind that the uptick in BAH is not a blanket increase. Some places will see as much as 10% to 15% (Beale AFB, Mountain Home AFB and Fort Wayne), while other places like Fort Riley, Camp Lejeune and Pensacola will see BAH drop as much as 5% or more.

Don’t worry if you already live in one of the areas that will see a decrease. Current regulations prevent BAH dropping for personnel already stationed at a particular location. Only incoming personnel will be affected by the drop.

That being said, make sure you do your research if a PCS is in your future.

One thing many folks may not be aware of, however, is the current BAH dampening plan to push 5% of housing cost responsibilities back to service members by 2019.

Even with the increases offered to many this year, service members will see the increase in their BAH not stretching as far as it did in years past. The published 2018 BAH rates will only cover 96% of the average housing costs, with an additional 1% reduction expected next year. The thought is that this plan will free up some much-needed funds in the defense budget.

I’m not sure how I feel about this idea. In part this feels like another inch in the steady erosion of military pay and benefits. In many specialty job positions, services are struggling to retain qualified military personnel who reap the benefits of training while in service only to be romanced away by the large salary and benefit offers coming from civilian employers.

I understand the money has to come from somewhere, but in my experience, BAH has frequently not kept up with growing housing costs and given that service members have no say in the duty stations they are assigned to, reduction in the BAH benefits will make PCSing to some duty stations that much harder.

In places like Virginia Beach, San Diego and Washington, D.C., where the cost of living is already 15% to 40% higher than the national average, even a 5% reduction in benefits will hit service members’ wallets hard.

And it doesn’t exactly scream “stay in” when it comes time to consider re-enlistment.

When you consider this pay increase – that’s not really an increase – along with some of the jumps in medical costs put out by Tricare for 2018, the benefits so many service members expected as part of their pay is slowly but surely being whittled away.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not going to turn down a pay increase, but it’s important that we remain aware of what those increases actually mean. And when you consider that the call to serve is answered by so few, I have a hard time understanding why pay and benefits seem to be on the steady decline.

What do you think of this year’s pay increase for service members?

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The Resident Energy Conservation Program (RECP) was created to make residents of military housing more aware of their energy use and to therefore reduce consumption. The goal is to lower energy use for environmental reasons and to save the government money.

So far the government is the only one seeing any savings as hundreds of military families find huge bills in their mailbox for energy they say was not justly charged or actually used.

The pilot for the Resident Energy Conservation Program took place in Hawaii between 2011 and 2012. In that initial test phase, the government saw a 9% reduction in use, which ultimately saved them $1.3 million according to Commander, Navy Installations Command. The reality for military families however was quite the opposite.

Compiled complaints show that military families consistently were charged $200 to $600 a month in electricity bills for over use. Many people claim that they did not use the equivalent amount of energy to justify such steep bills. Military housing says the bills are correct and have not done much to sway these families from feeling unjustly charged.

The Resident Energy Conservation Program sounds fair, but military families are receiving bills far beyond what they consider reasonable.

The pilot for the Resident Energy Conservation Program was considered by the government to be a success and over the last few years has been rolled out to all Marine Corps and Navy housing. It isn’t a bad program. In an effort to persuade residents to conserve energy, the program includes a reward element. The government’s research showed that when families embraced the Resident Energy Conservation Program that consumption fell 20%. To motivate families to achieve this, the Resident Energy Conservation Program was equipped with a credit or reimbursement for families that saved energy.

How does the Resident Energy Conservation Program determine use?

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is meant to cover the normal use of electricity or gas and water and sewer as compared to families with similar homes out in town.

To determine average use on base, the Resident Energy Conservation Program uses Like-Type Groups (LTGs). These are homes in the same neighborhood that are in the same condition and age. These could include homes with similar square footage and number of bedrooms as well as the type of home and the type of energy, gas versus electricity.

It does not account for the number of people in a household just as BAH is not adjusted for the number of family members. From this, a monthly Normal Usage Band is created.

The Normal Usage Band gives a leeway of 10% over and under, providing room for consumption. For residents that use 10% less than the norm, they are given a credit or rebate. Military families that go over the 10% rate are charged for the overage.

This makes the Resident Energy Conservation Program sound fair, but residents are receiving bills far beyond what they consider reasonable. When military families question the housing office, they say that is what was used and that is what is owed.

A number of military families have been able to have their meters tested for accuracy however. Some have found their meter was actually connected to a street light or a neighbor’s home. Military housing originally was not designed with individual homes running on meters. Specialists had to go in and set up meters. In some instances, those individuals merely guessed which lines went to which houses.

What can you do if you think your utility bill is wrong?

If you are living in military housing and believe your bill is not accurate contact the resident services manager or housing office. You can request a home evaluation to make sure all appliances are using energy efficiently as well. The manager can sit down with your family and help you understand ways to conserve energy. In the meantime, you still have to pay your bill. If you do not, you may find an eviction letter in your mailbox next.

There are waivers available for wounded warriors and families registered with the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). If your family uses excess electricity due to medical reasons, you can request a waiver from the Resident Energy Conservation Program. You can submit a request through the EFMP office or through the Wounded Warrior Bn.

If you are still unsatisfied, you can reach out to your chain of command. NCIS is conducting its own investigation in some areas so you can also contact them. Lastly, you can submit a claim to the Inspector General.

Do you think that military families are being scammed by the Resident Energy Conservation Program? What problems have you had with your bill when you lived in on-base housing?

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In 2015, more than $80 million in food stamp benefits were spent at military commissaries. That is an astonishing figure and that amount does not cover every family that needs financial help to feed their family. There are many more military families that would benefit from food stamps, now known as SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Congresswoman Susan Davis, the Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, introduced the Military Hunger Prevention Act. Its purpose is to exempt the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) in the determination of a military family’s eligibility for particular federal benefits. This bill is specifically aimed at making it easier for military families to qualify for SNAP.

While BAH varies based on region, pay grade and dependency, in many cases it still is not enough to cover housing. This leaves families using other components of their pay to cover rent or mortgage that would otherwise go to food. Because of this, many military families are forced to use emergency food relief. Investigators at Camp Pendleton reported last year that 400 to 500 military families used one of the food pantries on base. That is just the statistic of one of the 4 food pantries on Camp Pendleton.

Rep. Davis introduced this bill after learning that numerous families in the San Diego area, specifically Camp Pendleton, were unable to meet the basic need to feed their families.

By removing BAH from the annual income of military families, more will qualify for food stamps. This shift may provide relief to the overwhelmed food banks.

The bill has been introduced and referred to the Committee on Armed Services as well as the Committee on Agriculture for further review.

What do you think of this proposal to exclude BAH from food stamp eligibility?

In the meantime, military families will continue to stand in line at 7 a.m. to receive meals from food pantries on base as well as off base. To beat the stigma of getting help, a program was introduced in schools where children receive a backpack of food to help them get through the weekend when free breakfast and free lunch are not available. Sadly, nearly a quarter of the children in on-base schools receive free meals. This means thousands of children potentially do not have access to food at home, particularly over the weekend when free meals are not available.

While receiving SNAP benefits might sound like the answer to this problem, it isn’t a lot of money.

States vary on the amount of money that is allocated per person based on certain criteria. In 2015, California’s program paid on average $1.58 per person per meal a day. Last year Alabama paid on average $1.40 per meal per day.

Imagine how much you spend on your meals. Would this amount cover it?

In 2013 a Census Bureau study showed that about 2% of active duty families used SNAP. That is roughly 23,000 military families.

Six percent of those that responded to the Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey said they had to use emergency food relief last year. Military families are struggling to feed their families.

The Department of Defense tried a program in 2001 known as the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) to help military families. This program was meant to provide up to a $1,100 a month supplement to put service members over the requirement for SNAP. The program was terminated in September 2016 because not enough families qualified for it.

If the Military Hunger Prevention Act passes, will being able to qualify for SNAP be the answer to thousands of military families’ hunger problem or is there a better solution for those facing food insecurity?

What do you think of this proposal to exclude BAH from food stamp eligibility?

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Every year military service members and their families wait to find out what is going to change with their BAH rates. BAH, which stands for Basic Allowance for Housing, is based on your ZIP code. This allowance is supposed to be put toward your housing costs.

On average, BAH is only meant to cover 98 percent of housing costs instead of 100 percent.

If you live on post, you are not going to get BAH but you won’t have to pay rent either. If you live in privatized housing on base, you receive your housing allowance and pay it to the private housing manager each month.

If your BAH rates have gone up you will be making a little more each month. On average they have gone up $54 per month this year, nationwide. However, the amount that the BAH is supposed to cover is down 2 percent.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t find a place within the limits of your monthly allowance, but that on average, BAH is only meant to cover 98 percent of the costs now instead of the full 100 percent that the allowance used to cover.

If your rates have gone down, you don’t need to worry at first. They will not change until you move or when your service member gets a promotion. Then they will be adjusted based on your location and rank.

Now, if the rate that you are supposed to get paid when you change rank is lower than it was before the change, you will be grandfathered in to your old rate. This is good because no one will receive less than they are getting in the previous year unless they are making a change.

I always used to enjoy that first paycheck of the new year when our LES reflected our new BAH rates. We were lucky in that all our time in active duty Army, the rates always went up. This didn’t mean that we would run out to buy a bigger house or spend more on rent but having a little bit extra each month to put toward our bills was always nice.

When buying a house, we knew we wanted our mortgage to stay below our BAH. Luckily we can make that happen in our current location but that might not always be the case. You should keep in mind that off-base rent might be pretty close to your BAH since a lot of the landlords know the BAH rates and charge based on that amount.

If your BAH does go up, put the extra money in savings or use the money to help with your debt. You will be glad that you did.

In the case that your BAH is going down and being close to a move or a promotion, think about how much you will be getting after the change. You might find yourself frustrated because of the change. You might have assumed you would be making more money once you got promoted but sticking to a budget will be your best bet. Make housing choices based on the new amount and you won’t run into any financial problems.

If you are planning a move to a new duty station, check the rates for the next year. When trying to decide on where to live, you will need to know how much in BAH you are going to be getting. Ideally, you should have your BAH cover your housing, including utilities, but that isn’t always a possibility in all areas.

With proper planning, you don’t have to worry if your BAH fluctuates. You can adjust and figure out how to make the new rate work for you and your family.

Is your service member’s BAH increasing in 2016? Click here to find out so you can start planning for any future moves or changes to where you are living.

In an attempt to cut spending, the Senate Armed Services Committee has recommended reducing BAH to only allow the higher ranked service member to receive BAH if both service members are stationed within reasonable commute of one another in the contiguous states.

This recommendation is part of the 2016 Defense Authorization bill (S. 1376) that will be voted on this month.

There are more than 40,000 dual-service couples in the military and that number continues to grow now that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. With the recent Supreme Court ruling that same sex partners can marry in America, the number may continue to climb. BAH costs have grown rapidly and in 2001 topped $1 billion annually. The committee aims to curb that cost with this bill.

As it stands, both service members can draw BAH even if they are stationed within the same area. If they do not have children, they both receive BAH at the without dependents rate. If they do have children the higher ranked service member receives the with dependents rate and the other receives BAH at the without dependents rate.

What do you think of this proposal to reduce housing allowances for dual-military couples and roommates?

If this bill passes the Senate and later the House, dual-military couples could see their BAH rates change as early as October 1, 2015.

Under the new law,

(p) Single allowance for married members assigned for duty within normal commuting distance- In the event two members of the uniformed services entitled to receive a basic allowance for housing under this section are married to one another and are each assigned for duty within normal commuting distance, basic allowance for housing under this section shall be paid only to the member having the higher pay grade, or to the member having rank in grade if both members have the same pay grade, and at the rate payable for a member of such pay grade with dependents (regardless of whether or not such members have dependents).

This proposal would greatly impact a family’s income. An E-7 with children currently assigned to San Diego can draw BAH of $2,499 with dependents and their partner, an E-6 would draw the without dependents rate of $2,052. Their combined monthly BAH is $4,551.

Taking away the second BAH under the new law would lower their annual pay by $24,624. That is a significant amount of money for most military families.

Dual-service couples are not the only ones that will see a change if this bill is approved. There is a second part to the bill that covers a reduction of BAH for service members that live together but are not partners.

(q) Reduced allowance for members living together- (1) In the event two or more members of the uniformed services who are entitled to receive a basic allowance for housing under this section live together, basic allowance for housing under this section shall be paid to each such member at the rate as follows:

(a) In the case of such a member in a pay grade below pay grade E-4, the rate otherwise payable to such member under this section.

(b) In the case of such a member in a pay grade above pay grade E-3, the rate equal to the greater of–

(i) 75 percent of the rate otherwise payable to such member under this section; or

(ii) the rate payable for a member in pay grade E-4 without dependents.

Many service members choose to have other service members as roommates to save on the cost of rent and utilities. This section of the bill would lower their combined BAH and curb that to a degree.

There is currently no plan to cut individual BAH, but there is talk of a reduction over time that service members will pay 5 percent of rent and utility costs. In the meantime, many eyes will be on the Senate this summer to see if service members’ bank accounts will significantly change this fall.

What do you think of this proposal to reduce housing allowances for dual-military couples and roommates?